To:THE PETROGRAD ORGANISATIONS

Written:Written in the second half of April 1919Published:First published in 1932 in the journalKrasnaya LetopisNo. 5–6 (50–51).

      Printed from the typewritten copy.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,1975,

      Moscow,Volume 44,

      pages220b-221a.Translated:Clemens DuttTranscription\Markup:R. CymbalaPublic Domain:Lenin Internet Archive.You may freely copy, distribute,
	display and perform this work, as well as make derivative and
	commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
	Archive” as your source.•README

Ihave had a detailed report from Vatsetis and the Chief
of Staff.The conclusion is a sad one.Strenuous efforts are
needed. The present enthusiasm mustnot be allowed to
subside, but must be sustained for at least 2 months andstill further intensified.Otherwise we shall not finish the
war, and finished it must beat all costs, as signs of
weariness among the masses (100,000 deserters) are becoming
more frequent.

Ihave discussed the following measures with Trotsky:

1)Some3,000 Petrograd workers,unfitfor war and
unarmed, to be sent to the Don. Purpose—to set things
going, to weaken the Cossacks, demoralise themfrom within,
settle among them, set up groups in the villages, etc.

2)Allmeans and resources to be used more and more to
get ready a flotilla for the Volga. Especiallyrepairs.

3)Dittoas regards artillery (without taking away from
the Karelian line). It is necessaryagainandagainto check
with the army men whether it is possible to help the east
with artillery.

4)Riflesto be collected,especially broken ones(in Tula
800 a day can be repaired;work is lacking).

5)Mobilisationof Petrograd workers to be continued
both for the Ukraine and for the Don.

Ireceived a telegram today from Zinoviev on the
stoppage of several works, big ones, in Petrograd, owing to
oil shortage. I could not get Krasin on the phone. When
I do I shall tell him. But I don’t think any oil is or will
be available. I advise movingevery oneof these workers
to the Ukraine, to the Don, to the east, for 3 months.
It is stupid to starve, to perish in Petrograd, when it is
possible to win grain and coal.

6)Mobilisationof Party functionaries to be continued,
too, especially for places close to the front line.

Itis necessary again and again “to rob Petrograd”,
that is, to take people from it, otherwise neither Petrograd
nor Russia can be saved.

Variousbranches of administration and of cultural and
educational work in Petrograd can and should beweakened
tenfoldfor 3 months.

Weshall then save both Russia and Petrograd.

Wehave no other workers to equal the Petrograders.

Greetings,Lenin